Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed by all that you have to do? Does it ever seem like there is not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needs to be done?

There is good news: life does not have to be that way. More than that, as Believers, our life should not be that way. “But how in the world can it ever be different?”– you may ask. The answer: Let Peace Rule.

In times past, it seems that Christmas was the only time that some people got a little frazzled over all the extra “holiday” things that had to be done. Now, it appears that the majority of people find themselves running from one holiday event to another, one special occasion, or business meeting, or special event to another – all year long. Their “to do” list is virtually endless, and often times, so also is their frustration and anxiety.

This was never God’s intent for the life of the Believer. His intent was and is for us to live a life of peace and tranquillity – a life free from stress, anxiety, worry, and frustration. The question is: How can we really live a Life of Peace when there is so much to do?

God has revealed the answer in Proverbs 16.9: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

We may plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it (Proverbs 16.9 MSG). The demands of life we face every day may be loudly crying for our attention, but that does not necessarily mean that we have to answer them all. When we look at all we have before us to do, it may at first seem like there is nothing that can be eliminated – all of it appears absolutely necessary.

Proverbs 16.3 instructs us: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”When we commit our activities, demands, and responsibilities to the Lord, our thoughts will be established. If we will take the time to go over our schedule and “to do” list with the Lord, He will establish our thoughts and show us the things that are really of most importance for us to pursue and the things that we should eliminate. We can make plans, but the Lord is the One upon which we should continually depend to direct our steps.

Letting Peace Rule“And let the PEACE (soul harmony which comes) from Christ RULE (act as an umpire continually) in your heart [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind, in that peaceful state] to which as members of Christ’s one body you were called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative) [giving praise to God always].” Colossians 3.15 AMP

Colossians 3.15 urges us to Let the Peace of God RULE, acting as an umpire continually in our heart, deciding and settling with finality ALL QUESTIONS that arise in our mind. When we allow the Peace of God to rule in our life, that Peace within us will let us know what is the Will of God for the particular time and situation we are facing and what is not His Will. We are to let His Peace act as an umpire (one chosen to render a decision, an arbiter) continually in our heart. When we do this, His Peace will decide and settle with finality all questions or decisions that arise in our mind.

Anytime we make plans, we should check our heart and let the Peace of God do its work in us. If we will pay attention to God’s Peace in our heart, it will let us know what is right and warn us of the things that are not right.

When we obey the Peace within our heart, we will have Peace in what we do.

Proverbs 19.21 tells us that there are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose which will stand. At the end of each day, the thing of most value is not that you checked off everything on your list, but that you fulfilled the Will of God for that day.

We can have many plans and do many things, but fulfilling the Will of God everyday is what will stand. When we commit everything to the Lord and let His Peace rule in our life, nothing of importance will go undone. Even if we did not accomplish everything on our lists, we can rest assured that God’s List was fulfilled in full if we were letting His Peace rule in our life.

There will always be people and circumstances around us calling for our attention. It was that way in the life of Jesus, and it is the same way for us. However, it was never the voices of people or circumstances that motivated Jesus into action. He was motivated only by the Will of the Father. “I assure you…The Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord);but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way.” (John 5.19 AMP).

Jesus said, “I do not seek My own will but the Will of the Father who sent Me. My food (My sustenance) is to do the Will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work” (John 5.30, 4.34). His food was to do the Father’s Will. When you and I become hungry for the Will of God, and permit His Will to be our only motivation, His Peace will lead us in the right direction and accomplish everything that needs to be done.

In order to be motivated by the Will of God, we must be filled with the knowledge of His Will. Whenever we are uncertain of the Father’s Will in any area, we can ask Him for wisdom and understanding concerning His Will:

“Father, fill me with the knowledge of Your Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that I may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing You, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy, giving thanks to You, Father, Who has qualified me to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in the light”(Colossians 1.9-12).

This passage from Colossians 1.9-12 is a very good prayer to pray every day before beginning the tasks awaiting us. As we begin each day looking to the Lord for direction for that day, it clears our mind to view each task or situation in light of His Will. From this perspective, some things we once saw as urgent or top priority will begin to fade into less importance in relation to God’s plans and purpose.

Keeping our focus on the Lord’s Will brings peace and clarity to our life. When we let His Will lead us in every situation, unseen obstacles and trouble will be avoided.

We should plan, schedule, and live each day with purpose – but we should do so with God’s involvement, and remain yielded and keenly sensitive to Him whenever He directs us to do something that differs from our schedule.

God is not the author of confusion. He is the Author of PEACE (I Corinthians 14.33). When we Let Peace Rule in our life, we are acknowledging Him as the Author and Prince of PEACE that He is.

As you face the holidays and the tasks before you in the days ahead, let the Peace of God lead you in everything you do. He will fill you with the knowledge of His Will and bring you into His very best for your life, if you will keep your focus on Him.

Every thought that arises in your mind and every decision before you will be decided and settled with finality… All because you Let the Peace of GodRULE.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 4.6-7).